Q: I know Broncos coach John Fox prefers a 4-3 defense, but star pass rusher Elvis Dumervil, the team's only elite player among the front seven, is best suited for a 3-4 defense. The way the Broncos drafted points to them staying with a 3-4 defense. Von Miller is a pass-rushing outside linebacker. Inside linebacker Mike Mohamed played in a 3-4 defense in college. The Broncos passed on every 4-3 defensive end or defensive tackle they had an opportunity to draft. The strength of a 4-3 is defensive tackles who can push the pocket and defensive ends with size. Do the Broncos have anyone on their roster who can be a legitimate starter at either position? Why would the Broncos draft players best suited for a 3-4 defense and make the switch to a 4-3 defense?

A: The Broncos plan to use a 4-3 defense this year — four linemen, three linebackers. But their 4-3 will have a 3-4 flavor to it.

"You can call it anything you want," Fox said, "but we're going to line up and try to stop people and try to take the ball away. It's a 4-3 defense, but it will look like a lot of things."

That will be true especially in some pass-rush looks when both Dumervil and Miller could be at the line of scrimmage, either standing up or being down in a three-point stance.

Many NFL teams that use a 4-3 defense say the most important positions are the primary edge pass rusher — the right defensive end — and the middle linebacker. If you have playmakers at those positions, your 4-3 is going to be sturdy.

The Broncos selected the best pass rusher on this year's draft board when they picked Miller, a former Texas A&M star. I had him ranked No. 2 overall. The fact that he can make plays behind the line of scrimmage from a traditional outside linebacker position makes him an even safer bet for the Broncos.

The edge pass rusher is vital to Fox's 4-3 defense. Fox can pair Miller with Dumervil, a classic 4-3 right defensive end according to Fox. That gives Fox the mismatch he's looking for against blocking schemes.

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Dumervil has been productive in a 4-3 defense. He had 8-1/2 sacks as a rookie and 12-1/2 sacks in his second season. That was without a threat like Miller on the other side of the defense.

It's important to remember that the Broncos went into this year's draft feeling better about Robert Ayers returning to defensive end — his position with the Tennessee Volunteers — before the Broncos moved him to outside linebacker. And they felt good about re-signing Kevin Vickerson to be a key contributor at defensive tackle. Marcus Thomas, a restricted free agent, could also return at defensive tackle.

Broncos fans may not agree, but that was the team's mind-set entering the draft. And don't forget, the Broncos are facing a multiyear job to rebuild their roster.

They decided the potential combination of Vickerson, Thomas and a newcomer signed in free agency was better than the choices they had during the draft.

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